ERODE: Fifteen peacocks were found dead on an agriculture field near Perundurai in Erode district on Monday. Conservator of Forests, Erode Circle, D. Arun, said an inquiry had been ordered following a suspicion of poisoning. People in Pattakaranpalayam village found the carcasses of the birds lying scattered on a field located near water carrying channel and alerted the revenue official. A team of officials led by Perundurai Tahsildar Panneer Selvam rushed to the spot and the carcasses were handed over to the veterinary hospital for post-mortem. It appeared that the birds had died a few days ago. It was the first time in the recent years that a mass death of peacocks had been reported in the district, the officials said. They also alerted the forest department about the death of the peacocks. The hillocks and agricultural fields offer an ideal habitat for peacocks. Some of the farmers had resented the presence of peacocks as they damaged crops, forest department sources said.